Learn French at Alpadia Lyon

Our school is in the heart of the city’s cultural and festive life in Lyon’s centre. The beautiful 19th century building is located on the “Presqu’île” (peninsula), overlooking the Rhône and a short walk from the Saône.

The school has spacious and bright classrooms with high ceilings. The WIFI network means you can read your emails and surf for free on one of the in-house computers.

Only a stone’s throw away from the biggest square in Lyon, straight after class you can soak up the atmosphere in the numerous nearby cafés and restaurants, where Lyon’s students meet. The school has direct access to the best pedestrian shopping areas in Lyon and there is a subway station and a bus stop less than five minutes walk away from the school.

Courses

Alpadia Lyon offers a lively and interactive atmosphere for learning French. With great teachers who know how to infuse you with motivation and bring humour to the classes, you will be able to take advantage of a friendly environment and engaging lessons. Your language level is assessed following the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). As you take your language test before arriving at school, you will begin your first morning already in the correct class!

Intensive 25

25 lessons per week

With a core foundation built on general linguistic skills, extra attention is also given to verbal communication, helping you grasp the subtleties of the French language. The minimum duration for A1* absolute beginners is two weeks. *Specific start dates for absolute beginners > A1.

Standard 20

20 lessons per week

This basic French course helps you develop and improve your core general linguistic skills while allowing plenty of free time to practise your French with others and during extra-curricular activities around the city. The minimum duration for A1* absolute beginners is two weeks. *Specific start dates for absolute beginners > A1.

Premium 30

30 lessons per week

As one of the most intensive French courses offered, this class gives you an in-depth and extensive learning experience, with extra classes dedicated to improving oral and written communication. The minimum duration for A1* absolute beginners is two weeks. *Specific start dates for absolute beginners > A1.

Private

Intensity and duration based on your needs

Having dedicated time alone with your teacher, you can advance at the rhythm that suits you best. With a tailor-made programme, this type of French course guarantees steady progression in the language.

Combi 5 & 10 courses

25 or 30 lessons per week

If you want to combine a regular French course with private lessons, than this is the option to choose! With a solid foundation taught in groups, take advantage of the additional lessons alone with your teacher to concentrate on your specific level and linguistic requirements. The minimum duration for A1* absolute beginners is two weeks. *Specific start dates for absolute beginners > A1.

Exam Prep 30

30 lessons per week

This French course is specifically tailored to training you for the DELF/DALF or TCF language exams. This special four-week class gives you the tools you need to boost your confidence and best prepare your exam.

I am a wine lover and Lyon is the perfect city if you love wine and also cheese. It is easy to walk around the city and I only had to take public transport a couple of times. All in all time went by really quickly and I managed to be speaking French by the end of the week! It was a great experience that I hope to repeat again soon.

Accommodation

Let us help you find the best option to suit your requirements.

Whether you seek independence or company, luxury or simplicity, international or local environments, Alpadia Lyon proposes a large variety of quality accommodation options around Lyon that will help you get the most out of your language study stay.

Host Family

An ideal accommodation solution for students seeking to get the optimal language immersion experience, host families propose single rooms with half-board or breakfast only. The kitchen and bathroom is shared. For the duration of their stay, you live with a French-speaking family, improving your language level daily.

Student apartment

Only a 10 minute walk to the main train station and 20 minutes from the school, our spacious and bright loft apartment is composed of a living room, fully-equipped kitchen, four double or single bedrooms, a shared bathroom and two private bathrooms. Only a short distance away from the largest shopping centre in Lyon, this apartment offers you an ideal environment and the opportunity to mix with other Alpadia students from all over the world.

Residence

Only 25 minutes away from school by public transport, our residence-studio provides a private bathroom, a small kitchen with personal living space and in-house laundry facilities. Close to local amenities, this location houses other university residents, giving you ample opportunity to meet locals and to practise your French!

Hotel and Bed & Breakfast

Around the school and beyond, there are numerous alternative options available to students who prefer accommodation outside our selection. From deluxe luxury rooms at a 5-star hotel to simple functional rooms in a hostel, we have a plethora of other choices at hand.

Leisure

Explore the many faces of this great city

A city with two thousand years of history, Lyon has plenty for keen historians, while food lovers are spoilt for choice in the city known as the French capital of gastronomy and famous for its bouchons. For some fresh air, there’s nothing like spending time in the magnificent city centre Parc de la Tête d’Or. Out of town, the backcountry and Rhône countryside are glorious, whether for a walk, a cycling tour or a wine-tasting trip to sample the finest Beaujolais vintages.

Epoqu'Auto

Discover the exhibition, dedicated to vintage automobiles, that has been going strong since 1979, thanks to the members of the "Club des Amateurs d'Automobiles Anciennes". With over 60'000 visitors, this event showcases beautiful, classic cars, and for those with money to spare, you can even participate in the vintage car auction.

Festival Printemps d’Europe

Discover this unique festival that gathers together diverse cultures to favour awareness, communication and exchange. Open to all kinds of art forms; from dance to cinema and from theatre to music, this world festival proposes unique performances from different countries, in a variety of languages.

Tout le monde dehors!

For over ten years this annual festival has presented artistic performances and activities in public spaces around Lyon. With workshops on dance, yoga, massage and initiations to world dance, there is a generous palette of activities for all members of the family.

La Biennale de Lyon

Discover this art festival that explores various themes through dance and contemporary art. Art is presented one year and dance the next, with works created based on specific themes, which have included “time”, “transmission”and “global”. This year marks the presentation of the theme “modern”.

Festival Lumière

Named after the Lumière brothers, who invented cinematography back in 1895, the annual Lumière Film Festival plays tribute to cinema by looking back at its history through retrospectives and restored prints. With a generous programme of screenings, film premieres and master classes, the one-week festival should not be missed.

Fêtes du Beaujolais nouveau

About 40 km north of Lyon lies the quaint wine-making town of Beaujolais. Every year they host a regional festival to celebrate the opening of the barrels of new wine. In a unique festive French style, enjoy discovering new local wines and delicacies.

Fête de Lumières

Be enchanted by the magical atmosphere created by the numerous light installations on the buildings, streets and parks of Lyon. This annual festival attracts over one millions visitors from France and beyond who come to marvel at the spectacular light shows.

La foire international de Lyon

This annual trade show, open to both professionals and the public, presents all types of articles for the home, for leisure and for well-being. As well as the exhibitor stands, there are also numerous workshops, performances, exhibitions and a sales area.

Les Nuits Sonores

Since 2005, this five-day festival has offered a rich programme of music; house, hip-hop, techno, rock, pop, folk and electronica. With over 130’000 annual visitors, the festival includes music events for children and special artistic presentations in art galleries and public spaces around Lyon.

Les Nuits de Fourvière

Experience the international and multidisciplinary festival that is "Les Nuits de Fourvière". Since 1946, this unique event has brought together theatre, dance, opera, music and cinema with a programme of over 60 performances to over 100’000 spectators.

Fête de la Musique

Celebrated all over the globe as Worldwide Music Day, the Fête de la Musique in Lyon plays tribute to both local and international artists. This free event gathers a wealth of musicians, bands, orchestras, choirs and DJs who perform in public spaces around Lyon.

Salon du chocolate

The world capital of gastronomy will be the host to this annual "Salon du Chocolat" that celebrates chocolate in all its shapes and tastes. With over 80 participants, visitors have the opportunity to taste exceptional creations and meet the greatest chocolatiers from the region and the whole of France. The highlight not to miss is the famous Chocolate Fashion Show!

University Pathway

With an abundance of arts, history, gastronomy and French culture, the cosmopolitan city of Lyon is a great choice for learning French and preparing for higher education. With a high student population, Lyon has a unique energy and great nightlife. There are also plenty of calm, beautiful, open spaces and numerous attractions to discover.

Non EU applicants: you will have to request a student visa.
Once your tuition fee is paid we will send you an invitation letter for your visa application. Simultaneously, we will help you submit your application at the university.

Work internship

As the third largest city in France, just behind Paris and Marseille, Lyon offers students the unique opportunity to discover French in a city rich with historical architecture. Located on the banks of the Rhone and Saone rivers, Lyon boasts an incredible choice of monuments, cafés, restaurants, bars and museums, not to mention countless festivals. As the Capital of Gastronomy, it is the ultimate location to gain work experience within the specialised fields of the culinary arts and tourism industry, while simultaneously perfecting your French language skills.

Special offers

Come with a friend and pay no enrolment fees!

Enrol with a friend and we'll waive the enrolment fees of both participants. Even if you are both in different locations! This fantastic offer is valid all year and applies to all Alpadia Language School programmes.

Special offers

Come with a friend and pay no enrolment fees!

Enrol with a friend and we'll waive the enrolment fees of both participants. Even if you are both in different locations! This fantastic offer is valid all year and applies to all Alpadia Language School programmes.

10% low season discount at Alpadia Montreux and Alpadia Lyon

Benefit from a 10% discount on course and accommodation fees from Sunday 21st October 2018 to Saturday 26th January 2019.
Only available at Alpadia Montreux and Lyon. Only available on 2018 prices.

Visa information

Any non-European citizen will have to find out if they need to apply for a student visa for the duration of their stay in France. If a visa is needed, please apply well in advance to allow enough time for the processing of your application. Click on the link below to see our dedicated student visa page.

We are a team

Director's welcome

"The whole team and I are happy to welcome you to our school! I hope to see many of you. We are ideally located in the heart of Lyon, which is steeped in history because of its culture, of course, but also because of its gastronomy. Here, you can eat everything... or almost! I am available to help you make the most of your stay and look forward to welcoming you here."